Maine, NH, crowds protest offshore drilling

PORTLAND, Maine — Hundreds of people gathered in Portland and Rye, N.H., to participate in a nationwide demonstration against offshore drilling Saturday.

An estimated 200 people gathered at Portland’s East End Beach and joined hands at noon Saturday as part of the national Hands Across the Sand day of action. The Portsmouth Herald says a similar event was held at Wallis Sands State Park in Rye, N.H., Saturday afternoon.

The demonstrations across the country were to show opposition to offshore drilling and support for clean energy in the wake of the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hands Across the Sand was founded in October 2009 and is endorsed by several environmental organizations.